“Today’s event meets two objectives; first, it is an important part of our efforts to improve the lives and livelihoods of our police officers and it is also another important milestone in my administration’s pursuit of the peace, prosperity and development of the Niger Delta.” – President Buhari
AN ADDRESS BY HIS EXCELLENCY, PRESIDENT MUHAMMADU BUHARI, GCFR, PRESIDENT OF THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA DELIVERED BY HIS EXCELLENCY, PROF. YEMI OSINBAJO, SAN, GCON, VICE PRESIDENT OF THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA ON THE OCCASION OF THE OFFICIAL COMMISSIONING CEREMONY OF THE 66 FLATS ACCOMMODATION FOR THE SPECIAL PROTECTION UNIT (SPU) OF THE NIGERIAN POLICE, BUILT AND DONATED BY THE NDDC, ON THE 28TH SEPTEMBER 2021
PROTOCOLS
Governor Wike thank you very much for your warm and generous hospitality, not just today, but every time I have visited the state.
I am here to represent President Muhammadu Buhari and I will be reading his speech.
Our Police Force is a crucial component of our law enforcement architecture. They are the civil force, the closest to the people in the various communities.
In the past months, we have been undertaking a major reform of the Police. First, we believe that we must increase the number of police personnel. So we have set yearly recruitment targets. We also are in the process of re-equipping our personnel, both in personal gear and hardware.
An important feature of the reform is accommodation for men and officers. I have directed that the building of barracks for men and women of the police force should be done in collaboration with the social housing effort of the Family Homes Fund. This will ensure the speedy execution of all of the projects and all of the barracks that need to be provided.
Funding of the police force remains a huge challenge, which is why we worked with the National Assembly to enact the Police Trust Fund Act. We are also looking at other measures to improve funding for the police.
Today’s event meets two objectives; first, it is an important part of our efforts to improve the lives and livelihoods of our police officers and it is also another important milestone in my administration’s pursuit of the peace, prosperity and development of the Niger Delta.
We recognize that establishing adequate security is absolutely integral to the fulfillment of this objective which is why we have committed significant resources to projects such as we are about to commission.
This project, the Special Protection Unit Base 6 Barracks, was built and donated by the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, to the Nigeria Police Force. It consists of 66 apartments for the accommodation of senior officers of the Special Protection Unit (SPU).
It also comprises a five-bedroom commander’s quarters, functional office accommodation, a sentry post, guardroom with armoury and parade ground of the Nigerian Police Force, built by the Niger Delta Development Commission.
It is my understanding that the contract for this building was originally awarded in 2012, but was stalled by a series of delays. We are gratified that it has finally been delivered.
This project is important because it is a means by which we can alleviate the accommodation challenges of senior security personnel posted to Rivers State and ultimately enhance the security footprint in the region. The cumulative impact of this and other similar projects will be the improvement of security in the state and the consolidation of the economic and social life of the people of this area.
Let me take this opportunity once again to commend the Honourable Minister, Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs, for providing leadership and resilience amidst mounting challenges and ensuring that projects that have a direct impact on the lives of the people are prioritized and completed in line with my directives.
I also commend the Hon. Minister of Police Affairs and the Inspector General of Police for their hard work and dedication to repositioning the Police.
The Federal Government has invested significantly in the NDDC and we recognize that this outlay of resources must be justified with verifiable projects that will improve the living standards of the people in the region.
As we hand over this facility to the Nigerian Police Force, let me reiterate the fact that without security there will be no development. This is the basis of my administration’s commitment to continue to provide various platforms for all the security agencies in the fight against terrorism, banditry, and all forms of criminality.
On this note, it is my singular honour and privilege to commission these facilities for the accommodation of the Special Protection Unit of the Nigerian Police Force. I charge you to ensure that this edifice is properly employed for the benefit of the men and women of the Police Force and the entire people of this State and of our nation.
May God bless our Police Force.
May God bless the people of the Niger Delta.
May God bless Rivers State.
May God bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria.